This action thriller is saved by honest-to-goodness, 100 per cent performances by stars Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt and Margaret Colin.

Beginning with a highly improbable house-to-street shoot-out between the IRA and the British army in Belfast, the plot progresses in only marginally more likely fashion.

Frankie (Pitt), fleeing Ireland with funds to buy Stinger missiles in America, re-locates as the basement lodger of New York cop O'Meara (Ford).

If this had happened in real life, the IRA would have bought their missiles and sailed off home, but needs of intrigue entail a falling-out with the supplier (Treat Williams) and subsequent action that blows the terrorists' cover.

The script is couched for effect rather than realism and offers up a badly acted Brit intelligence officer who speaks in dated dialogue from films 20 years ago.

Action, too, is a shade below the top level. However, Pitt's Irish accent sounds pretty authentic.